Merkur Futur Safety Razor

With razors being trophy pieces, you just might want to reserve a spot on the mantle for Merkur’s cutting instrument. The Futur is fashioned with an elegant, ergonomic design that demands your attention the moment you take it out of the packaging. Aggressiveness proves to be this razor's modus operandi. It is a modern take on the double-edge razor and comes built like a tank to sustain damage and foster long-term use.

Standing out are six adjustable settings that deliver advanced flexibility for shaving around congested areas — hence why it’s a great option for beginners and professionals alike, as well as both lefties and righties. The space between the blade and head mechanism provides enough breathing room to scrape up more hair and shaving solution in just one stroke, no matter the setting. Shaving at a six setting blessed us with a ridiculously smooth shave, but it goes without saying that such blade action can be dangerously hazardous on a sensitive face, as the Futur performs at the same level as a straight razor. So don’t press your luck if you’re still stuck on novice level. Merkur also favors a pop-open head instead of an unscrew top, which makes assembly and blade replacement incredibly convenient.BUY NOW $61.99 at Amazon.com

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Bolin Webb R1

If double-edge razors weren’t considered to be the upper echelon in the world of consumer shaving, the Bolin Webb R1 would wear the grooming crown. The fact that it’s been featured in Chicago's Museum of Contemporary Art store screams in loud volume. With an arched handle and matte finish reminiscent of a Lamborghini Roadster, this razor's industrial design brings inspiration to your morning shaving routine. Referring to it as “beautiful” would be an obvious understatement.

Shaving across the chin and mustache region is heavenly, as the razor makes both far more achievable thanks to a curved frame, granting relief when passing over nicks caused by another razor. The three-blade system it accepts — evenly sharp edges that dominate every form of body hair — could be its most overlooked contribution. We found this out when performing some minor manscaping in taboo areas. The R1 performed to task. Even the packaging is opulent, with a box case that radiates once opened thanks to a glossy handle finish. This is a work of grooming art!BUY NOW $80.00 at Amazon.com

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Seki Edge Feather

Underneath the quiet packaging lies a high-quality razor with enough shaving influence to replace your go-to blade. From design to operation, the Edge Feather revels in simplicity, combining the lightweight feel of a cartridge-based razor with the execution of a safety razor. It has quite the knack for dicing through moustache hair with finesse, and performs a steady job during wet shaves.

A ridged handle adds girth for better control and allowed us to navigate the tool nicely across sensitive areas. Blade replacement is classic, with a twist mechanism near the neck that opens up the butterfly head for simple insertion. In retrospect, this actually makes for the better blade replacement protocol, as replacing blades on some of the more-advanced models felt like assembling a science project at times. The Edge Feather is sold as a bundle with a shaving cream, though it works just as well with any other cream, gel or, surprisingly, hair conditioner (a nice little grooming hack to work with).BUY NOW $167.77 at Amazon.com

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Every Man Jack Manual Razor

EMJ took notice of the cartridge razor market and made the smart call of entering the game. The end result has been a stellar, premium cutter that puts your average Schick razor to shame. The Manual Razor is striking in appearance, with an aluminum frame and woodsy-inspired packaging that will surely appeal to lumbersexuals. It’s hard not to fall for the arched neck design that benefits the shaving process by reaching hard places in grand fashion. The same can be said about the all-chrome dock that holds the razor in place, demonstrating how shave performance and elegance can coexist on your bathroom or sink countertop.

The rubberized corners of the handle ensure a secure grip and made us comfortable taking the blade to foreign body parts. Cartridge replacement is simple, with the release switch near the top of the neck quickly dispensing dull blades to allow for swift reloading. Plus, the fact it comes with four extra cartridges is enough to get a good two months of use from the entire bundle.BUY NOW $19.95 at Amazon.com

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Baxter Of California Safety Razor

An old-school razor with modern construction, Baxter’s cutter is a hefty sucker that balances bulk with beauty through an indestructibly gorgeous design. The stainless steel build with a chrome finish captures your interest right out of the box and can withstand wear and tear for years on end. We put it through severe drop testing to test its durability, and no damage marks were inflicted.

The Safety Razor is targeted towards wet shavers and works amazingly well in the shower. Grip maintenance is pretty secure too, with a long-textured handle that affords security when moving the razor across slippery surfaces. The head might be its most underrated attribute, as the classic comb guard guides hair into the blade for shaving efficacy. Baxter has always been revered for its packaging, and the black gift-box setup is a basic yet classy move that’s just as valuable as the instructional shaving card included for amateur shavers.BUY NOW $65.00 at Birchbox.com

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Harry’s The Truman

American-designed, German-engineered — not exactly the descriptions one would associate with a subscription-based razor. Nonetheless, Harry’s signature cutter has all the right elements to transform the most skeptic shavers into believers. We won’t hide the fact that The Truman’s most advantageous feature remains its price tag, but its cutting precision should have the product valued higher. Handle control proved to be light yet adequate enough to manage difficult shaves, largely thanks to a zinc alloy handle.

The five-blade cartridge does an impressive job of mowing through hair in a single stroke. This could be attributed to the water-activated nourishing strip that creates nice glide action or the “gothic arch” angle that can be used for performing 30- to 45-degree shaves. Reaching under the nose and shaping sideburns was pretty simple in comparison to most other budget razors. Harry’s color selection of blue, orange, white, and olive is also a nice touch that can add pop to a primitive shaving station.BUY NOW $9.00 at Harrys.com

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Edwin Jagger Chrome Plated DE Safety Razor

One can only find intrigue in Edwin Jagger’s double-edge offering, which is considered a staple for international groomists. Amazon reviews alone will lead you to believe it’s a prime time razor. After getting a true feel for it, why go against the grain? (No pun intended.) This all-chrome shaver is as smart and durable as promoted — a given when you consider its sleek, pure aluminum form. Still, the product comes together in the actual shave.

Similar to Baxter’s popular razor, this one features a classic closed comb head that leads hair right into the blade for a consistent shave. The expertly engineered cap provides enough breathing room for the razor to shave around healing wounds or scabs. It’s pretty comforting to know it can get around obstacles. More surprising is how the razor heats up nicely and retains warmth when placed against the skin. This actually helps stimulate hairs on the opposite side that might have lost all titillation produced by a shaving cream. The polished chrome neck makes it a standout on any razor stand too.BUY NOW $32.32 at Amazon.com

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The Art Of Shaving Lexington Collection 5-Blade Power Razor

This technologically advanced razor welcomes a high-tech approach to shaving with an electronic feature to generate micro-pulsations that seamlessly dice through facial fur. The vibrating effect is far from overwhelming and allowed us to transition effortlessly when pivoting across facial contours, a process the razor excels at magnificently thanks to Gillette’s Flexball technology. The razor works great to reduce friction, while increasing effectiveness for close shaves. Stubble became an afterthought in less than a minute.The razor also snatches up stranded hair normally stuck in between the cleft.

Battery replacement is as simple as unscrewing the bottom of the handle and throwing one AAA battery in there. There’s no way of determining battery life, though taking into account the quick execution of the razor, one can guestimate it to be anywhere from two to three months depending on your shaving habits. The Lexington Collection is up there in terms of price, but keep in mind you’re paying for sustainability and modernity. BUY NOW $125.00 at Nordstrom.com

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Bevel Shaving System

The first-ever shaver designed to tackle coarse, curly hair is more than just a promise to reduce razor burn and grant gentlemen irritation-free skin. It’s a notable introduction to shaving that’s built on an ecosystem catered towards amateur groomists. Despite being sold as part of a six-piece subscription starter kit, the razor remains the star of the show and can be used with third-party products to achieve the same smooth results we experienced.

With a head designed for precision maneuvering, it’s pleasing to see how the razor can deliver surface-level hair cutting without chafing the skin. No ingrown hairs or rough patches were spotted after re-examining our faces the following day, which is surprising considering that we shaved through minor pimples around the neck area. So it’s worth nothing the razor can smoothen bumpy landscapes. It also comes properly weighted for ease in handling and control, so you won’t have to apply much pressure on it when you’re going with the grain.BUY NOW $30.00/month at GetBevel.com

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